KayAnna Kirby

4.5 Star Review For Claimed By Desire

KayAnna — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:29:44 +0000

I am ecstatic! My debut novel Claimed By Desire was reviewed by Night Owl Reviews, and it received a Top Pick 4.5 Star rating.

Ooh, Claimed by Desire is erotic and so-very-steamy. The sex is explicit and will definitely raise your temperature. The story is oh-so-romantic and emotional and the characters mesh together extremely well

Night owl Reviews

Read the entire review here.

Available Now and On Sale

KayAnna — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:11:56 +0000

Claimed By Desire, an erotic romantic novel is currently on sale for a limited time at Amazon, Barnes and Nobel and All romance ebooks.

Claimed By Desire Virtual Book Launch Party

KayAnna — Tue, 17 May 2011 06:34:25 +0000

Whoo hoo! Today is the official release for Claimed By Desire.

To celebrate the release we are going to have some fun at my virtual release party. Pick up a virtual glass and have some virtual champagne, munch on virtual hor d’overs and listen and move to some virtual music. Then if you would like, head over to Amazon, Barnes & Nobel , the Apple ibookstore or All Romance Ebooks and pick up an actual copy of Claimed By Desire in paperback or ebook.

Leave a comment and you could win a signed copy of Claimed By Desire or an ebook.

Now for a little fun.

Guess the movie (in the comments) and be entered for a chance to win a $25.00 Visa Gift Card. Every right answer is an entry. Good luck.

Movie Quiz

1)”A Man’s gotta know his limitations.”

2)”…Brother’s gotta hug.” or “…Oh, that’s gonna leave a mark”

3)”Nobody puts baby in the corner.”

4)”I like this ship. It’s exciting.”

5)”You had me hello.” or “..I’m taking my goldfish with me.”

Stop by throughout the day for more activities, games, trivia and more prizes.

Buy Claimed By Desire

Amazon

Barnes and Nobel

All Romance Ebooks

About Claimed By Desire:
Certified Public Accountant Allison Cain screwed up. Against her better judgement, she sleeps with a man she meets for the first time. The next morning he is no-where to be found. She is left alone and feels used. But that wasn’t the end of her torture, because Allison discovers her one night stand leaves her with more than hurt feelings.

A Billionaire with everything except…

Bryson Anderson Jr., multi billionaire real estate developer has it all; money, power, women, even his own island. A real estate acquisition brings him face to face with the alluring Allison once again on the tropical Cayman Islands. When he hears Allison is expecting his heir as a result of their explosive one night stand, a primal urge for a family is born. However, he has to convince an angry Allison to be a family even if it’s just for their child.

He didn’t realize he could lose his heart in the process.

When Bryson becomes the target of a jilted rival out to destroy him, Allison and Bryson will have to fight for their lives and their hearts—before it’s too late.

Read an Except of Claimed By Desire

Claimed By Desire By KayAnna Kirby Cover Release

KayAnna — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:59:46 +0000

*MUSIC AND DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!*

Here is the cover for my Debut novel Claimed By Desire.

About Claimed By Desire

A Good girl Gone Bad…

Certified Public Accountant Allison Cain screwed up. Against her better judgement, she sleeps with a man she meets for the first time. The next morning he is no-where to be found. She is left alone and feels used. But that wasn’t the end of her torture, because Allison discovers her one night stand leaves her with more than hurt feelings.

A Billionaire with everything except…

Bryson Anderson Jr., multi billionaire real estate developer has it all; money, power, women, even his own island. A real estate acquisition brings him face to face with the alluring Allison once again on the tropical Cayman Islands. When he hears Allison is expecting his heir as a result of their explosive one night stand, a primal urge for a family is born. However, he has to convince an angry Allison to be a family even if it’s just for their child.

He didn’t realize he could lose his heart in the process.

When Bryson becomes the target of a jilted rival out to destroy him, Allison and Bryson will have to fight for their lives and their hearts—before it’s too late.

Title: Claimed By Desire

Author: KayAnna Kirby

Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance

Release : May 17, 2011

Publisher: Sovereign Press

What do you think?

Amanda Hocking: The Mockingjay of Indie Publishing

KayAnna — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 07:16:22 +0000

I heard about Amanda Hockings recent two million dollar deal with St. Martin’s Press for her newest series Watersong in a four book deal

Strong reactions have come from the Indie Publishing industry. Some people are happy for her, some are angry with her, and many others are trying to understand why she did it.

I haven’t read the reactions on twitter because I haven’t been on there lately. Every free moment is spent editing Claimed by Desire. When I finally read about the deal, my first reaction was, Amanda Hockings is Indie Publishing’s Mockingjay.

I recently read The Hunger Games Trilogy and I think it is one of the best series of books ever.

I know everyone did not read The Hunger Games, but if you didn’t, you should. At it’s soul, it’s about a revolution against a tyrannical and evil organization who abuses it’s powers and it’s people. A girl (Katniss) unwittingly becomes the face and symbol of the revolution. The key is she didn’t want to become the mockingjay, (symbol of the revolution) she never decided if she was for the revolution or not. Her actions were her own however, when they were successful, she became a sort of figurehead. Throughout the story, Katniss was pushed further and further into being this symbol, going further into her duties of the mockingjay, doing propaganda television spots when she really didn’t want to.

I think Amanda Hocking is Indie Publishing’s Mockingjay. She’d defied the capital (traditional publishing) and even turned them down before. She was something other Indie authors looked up to, who they wanted to emulate as traditionally published authors want to emulate Stephanie Myers, Stephen King, J K Rowlings etc. She was the light that guided indie authors. She’d become the symbol of a revolution when she neither wanted to be or even totally believed in it.

However, we do not live in a fictional society and Amanda hocking did not want to be the mockingjay. All she wanted to do was write so that’s what she’s doing. She wants to be an author, not a marketer, cover designer, editor etc (although she will have some of those duties with whomever she does business with.) She may want access to movie’s and a larger distribution. As she said in the article:

“I’ve done as much with self-publishing as any person can do,” Ms. Hocking said in an interview on Thursday. “People have bad things to say about publishers, but I think they still have services, and I want to see what they are. And if they end up not being any good, I don’t have to keep using them. But I do think they have something to offer.” NY Times

I disagree and think you can do with self-publishing what you strive to do. However, because she didn’t believe, she couldn’t. I think her success caught her off guard. She didn’t self publish because she necessarily believed in it (Katniss participated in the Hunger Games because she had to and she did what she did at the end because she thought it was her only way, not to defy the capital), She did it because it was an option for her books “out there.”

I hear many people defend Traditional publishers, saying there is enough room for self publishers and Traditional publishers to get along. Many people also ponder why Indie’s are so angry with Traditional Publishers and I agreed, until I read further down the article and saw:

Publishers, weary of hearing about their disposability in an age when writers can self-publish their work on the Internet and sell it on Amazon.com, said they were vindicated by the news….

Matthew Shear, the publisher of St. Martin’s Press, said that he wanted “pretty badly” to win the auction for Ms. Hocking’s books…

“I think a lot of authors are looking at self-publishing as a way to perhaps make a certain amount of money sooner rather than later,” Mr. Shear said. “But a publisher provides an extraordinary amount of knowledge into the whole publishing process. We have the editors, we have the marketers, we have the art directors, we have the publicists, we have the sales force. NY Times

If Traditional Publishers were interested in “sharing” the industry with Indie Publishers, why would they feel vindicated. For some reason, the above quote rubbed me the wrong way. It just didn’t sit right with me. I felt Traditional Publishers were in competition with the entire Indie Publishing industry and in essence wants to crush it, end it, and by taking Amanda Hocking they feel a sort of victory (vindication). They are using the “cut of the head and the rest will fall strategy”. That is one of the reasons the Indie Publishing Industry is upset.

There are a few more things people may get upset with. Prices will increase. A traditional publisher is not going to release her books for the $.99 and $2.99 that Amanda priced her books when she self published. For avid readers, instead of spending $11.96 for 4 books previously, they will need to spend apx. $39.96 because the books are traditionally published (if the publisher priced the book at $9.99). For those on a budget, it’d be a stretch.

To many people this won’t mean much, but her terrific cover artist is now out of a client. Now, she may have gotten more clients because of working with Amanda Hockings, but lets not forget the industry that Indie Pubs have created. Instead of the production of a book being kept in house of the big publishers, money is spread out. Indie Publishers are creating jobs for cover designers, website designers, book designers, printers, etc. I totally agree with diversifying and spreading out money. It helps the economy and there will be more people to pay $9.99 for an ebook.

People are angry, I understand, but I also understand Amanda. It goes back to the age old dilemma. When there is change, there usually needs to be someone a leader that helps usher in that change. Whether it was Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the working class people in America or Apple/Itunes for the music industry and computers, Amanda Hockings was the beacon for Indie Publishers. Leaders are usually weighed down by the hopes and dreams of many people, as well as expectations of these people. You lose yourself and what you become is this symbol for others. You are no longer what you started out as, but what other people want you to be.

Do you take back who you are and be a little selfish but find satisfaction in YOUR life or do you go for the cause, lose yourself and wholly become the symbol, knowing forever more, you were one of the major people that helped usher in this change?

Ms. Hockings has made her choice:

“I want to be a writer,” she said. “I do not want to spend 40 hours a week handling e-mails, formatting covers, finding editors, etc. Right now, being me is a full-time corporation.”

NY Times

So now, will a new Mockingjay Please stand up.

Book Review: Eternity Embraced By Larissa Ione

KayAnna — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:35:43 +0000

Title: Eternity Embrace

Author: Larissa Ione

Publisher: ?

I bought the book

Blurb: Desire…
Demon slayer Andrea Cole has always taken down the demons and vampires she hunts without mercy. But when a fellow slayer is captured and turned into a vampire by a sadistic monster, she must choose between loyalty to her family and the man she loves.

Versus Instinct…

Kaden Quinn has dedicated his life to slaying vampires, so when he is turned into one, his greatest nightmare comes to life. And when the woman he loves is thrown into a dungeon with him — as food — he must battle new instincts and old desires, and choose between his life, and hers.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a short novella that originally appeared in The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 and the anthology Vampires in Love. It has been expanded for its stand-alone digital release. In the Demonica timeline, it falls between book 3, Passion Unleashed, and book 4, Ecstasy Unveiled, though it can easily be read without having read the Demonica novels.

The Good

I enjoyed Eternity Embraced. It was classic Larissa Ione style, just much shorter and one the two characters. Ms. Ione is a genius in putting two people in love in the fight of their love, physical and emotional lives. The situations are intense and wrought with passion, and pain. All of this happens in Eternity Embraced, albiet much shorter. The story started off strong with tons of all the right emotions, regret, horror, lust, love, desire, etc. It was really exciting.

The Bad (Or Not so Great)

There was a lot of back story weaved into the story which took me out of the moment of the story as I read their back story. I understood it and why it was necessary, but I started to feel a little lectured. It started high and intense but the conflict was resolved too easily for my liking. And when the characters embraced eternity it seemed an afterthought. There wasn’t that much sex. There was a ton of sexual attraction and inuendo but not much getting down to business.

Overall, I enjoyed Eternity Embraced. I’ve been busy lately and it was a nice short story to get my Larissa Ione fix without getting through a 400 plus page novel.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Book Blog Hop

KayAnna — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:20:46 +0000

I am participating in the blog Hop by Crazy-for-books.com. It’s a great way to meet other bloggers and connect with them. Stop by, leave your link, visit other bloggers and make some friends.

There is also a question of the week. This weeks questions is:

“Tell us about one of your posts from this week and give us a link so we can read it (review or otherwise)!”

I do not have a post from this week. I know, I know. Between being sick and planning for a trip on Tuesday I’ve been really busy. However, here is the last post I did, it’s the review of the book Falke’s Peak Let me know what you think.

Book Review: Falke’s Peak by Anna Leigh and Keaton Layle

KayAnna — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:40:00 +0000

Title: Falke’s Peak
Author: Anna Leigh and Keaton Layle
Publisher: Carina Press

Book Received For Review from Publisher via Netgalley

Blurb

She couldn’t believe her eyes.

Stressed out ad-exec Dakota wandered into Catamount Outfitters in search of a guide for a wilderness excursion. She didn’t expect to be greeted by not one, but five of the most ruggedly delicious-looking men she’d ever seen. Not to mention a live cougar guarding the shop.

The Falke brothers have more than just good looks in their genes.

Eldest brother Axel agrees to guide Dakota on her mountain trek. In cougar form, Axel’s twin, Gunnar, was there as a protection from predators—but he had his eye on the sexy client instead.

Into the wild…

While the rule with clients was “paws-off,” both Axel and Gunnar couldn’t resist Dakota’s seductive Native American beauty and determination. As cold days led to hot nights in the cabin, Axel and Gunnar wondered if they’d finally found a woman strong enough to tame them…

Review

Falke’s Peak was a believable paranormal romance with a good and loveable Catamont shifter family. This is a menage a trois love story, which is difficult to do because it’s an uncommon thing in Western society. Especially when it comes to a woman and two men. Two gorgeous puma shifting twin men who fall head over heels for a woman in their care. Falke’s Peak read like a fantasy novel for erotically inclined woman. Everything was kind of cookie cutter good and clean. I note that because I’ve read some dark books and when I read a book where people are so nice and overall good, I notice it. This is Dakota’s story. There is no secondary story. Dakota’s story develops far away from any civilization. Personally, I think that’s the best way for a relationship to develop, away from meddling family and friends. If it will work when you guys are alone, it should work when you are not.

The Good
The story was very believable and a fantasy at the same time. It seems like the authors set out to give us an adult fantasy/fairy tale. I like those. Sex scenes were good and hot. Falke’s Peak even made me smile in parts. I like a strong family background and all parties involved had a really good structure. Dakota behaved rationally when confronted with the surprises she got in the story. So many times I read paranormal stories where people react really crazy to paranormal events. Not so in Falke’s Peak. The love story between the brothers and Dakota was also very nice. It showed all parties falling in love on an emotional level.

The Bad (Or not so Great)
The mythology of the Catamount Pumas was a little weird to me, just a little. To conceive and mate, two Catamount pumas have to “love” the same woman. Polygamy is the only way for these Catamont Pumas to procreate, a little weird but it didn’t take away from the story.

Verdict
Nice, fast read with believable characters and hot menage sex.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Book Review: Aztec Gold By Caridad Piñeiro

KayAnna — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:46:00 +0000

Title: Aztec Gold
Author: Caridad Pineiro
Publisher: Carina Press
Book Received For Review from Publisher via Netgalley

Blurb

Six months ago, Cynthia Guerrera’s lover and fellow archaeologist Rafael Santiago trekked into the Mexican jungle in search of one of the fabled Cities of Gold—and never emerged. Guilty over their parting, Cynthia won’t rest until she knows what happened. When the discovery of a conquistador’s journal corroborates Rafe’s intended path, Cynthia is determined to finally leave the safety of the museum to rescue him, despite the conquistador’s dire warnings, and her own traumatic past.

Arriving at a remote village deep in the jungle, Cynthia is both elated and angered to find Rafe alive. But he is far from well, having watched his team be decimated by a bloodthirsty demon-goddess. When Rafe reveals he has been gifted with supernatural powers—powers he plans to use to kill the beast and save his brother, still held captive in the temple—Cynthia must face her own inner demons to fight alongside the man she loves.

35,500 words

Review:
Ms. Piniero, is a good writer.
I enjoyed the mythology in Aztec Gold. Goddesses and native cultures, mixing with romance and adventure is a staple in this story. I love to read treks to find a love one. It’s putting someone in an unknown situation and watching what they encounter and what happens to them . It can be exciting and can change the life of all those experiencing it. This is the basis of Aztec Gold. The descriptions and interactions with their guide and people they meet along the way added to the story really well.

However, this story did not connect with me on an emotional level. The characters felt distant to me. I understood their plight and their reasoning, but it did not move me to root for them. The story was slow for me until they reached the temple. I loved the mythology of the greedy goddess.

The main issue was the book was so well written I didn’t feel emotionally attached. It feels like Ms. Piniero knows how to technically write well. Grammar is on point, sentences are to the point without wasting words, and the language was intelligent. What was lost in all the technically good writing was the fire, or flavor (I don’t know what other word to use) of the story.

The ending made it seem like we could see Rafe and Cynthia again on another adventure that seems promising. I would read Ms. Piniero again because the base of the story is really good.

However, if you want to read a story with great mythology give this a try.

Rating: 2/5 Stars

The Future of Independent Book stores, ebooks and The Publishing Industry

KayAnna — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:09:00 +0000

The writing is on the wall, ebooks will become a large part of the book publishing industry. I don’t think it will replace books completely, but I think in the next few years, more people will read ebooks than print books (if it dosen’t happen already). I look at the music industry as evidence. You can hardly find CDs anymore. The majority of music sold are mp3s/mp4s. Soon, CDs will only be available at vintage stores.

However, it is not good that there are only a few sources for ebooks. The major stores such as Amazon, B&N, Google and the iBookstore are the only mainstream places I can think of where you can download ebooks. Well, there is kobo, smashwords, and Borders (for now).

The publishing industry is important to the US economy. It not only sustains writers, but printers and editors as well as independent book stores. Many people make their living from the manufacture and sale of books. To level the industry and depend on six (6) merchants is not only bad for the economy but it is bad for the consumer. With only a few large (private) companies in essense “controlling” information and art how do we guard against censorship? What happens if Amazon gets a new CEO and they have an issue with vampires and decides, they won’t sell any book that has anything to do with vampires.

There have already been instances where amazon removed books from their customers Kindle. Or when amazon removed all the books of a publisher because they were in a dispute. If you bought a book, Barnes & Noble could not send a representative to your home and take the book back from you. If Barnes & Noble had a dispute with a publisher, it did not have the ability to with, just a click, be able to remove all books from said publisher from it’s stores.

Many things are changing in Publishing as we speak. The future is yet to be decided. Most people are thinking about how self-publishing is going to affect the Publishing industry, I think people should also think about what will happen with the access to ebooks. How can the small business owner get “in” on the industry? How can we save the small bookstores around the country that is not only a place to buy books, but it’s a place for socializing, discovering books and friends and can be a gathering place for communities.

Maybe independent bookstores should embrace the ereader. Maybe small bookstores should start selling ereaders at their locations. Develop an infrastructure that books can be bought from them instead of Amazon etc, and make it worth while for customers to buy from them through discounts and/or loyalty programs. Independent bookstore owners should not take this laying down but figure out a way to innovate and become relevant.

With so many ebooks available and the access to publishing books easier than before, readers, more than ever need reliable sources to recommend great books. The independent bookstore can be a part of the answer.

The Independent bookstore is not irrelevant unless it makes itself so.

Links:
Friend or foe? Google, indie book sellers team up